Sheikh Al-Mu'alimi's Position on the Authentication of Concealed Narrators by Some Early Imams

Abstract

This research addresses Sheikh Al-Mu'alimi's position on the authentication of some early imams for concealed narrators. It examines the approach of early scholars in narrating from unknown narrators, particularly concealed narrators, while highlighting Al-Mu'alimi's claim and establishing the scholars' approach to this matter, based on their actual applications.

The research aims to unify the approach of hadith scholars regarding the ruling on narrating from unknown narrators by presenting some examples of their applications to unknown narrators. It also clarifies the reality of the disagreement between the established schools of thought regarding the ruling on narrating from an unknown narrator and when the unknown narrator's status is lifted. It also aims to free itself from the general rules mentioned by later scholars regarding the unknown narrator, clarify the broad meaning of the term "unknown" among early scholars, and clarify Al-Mu'alimi's position on the authentication of concealed narrators by early imams, explaining the validity or invalidity of this, along with evidence on it.

The researcher reached several conclusions, the most prominent of which are:

1. The early scholars mostly used the terms "unknown" and "concealed" in their linguistic sense.
2. Inner justice is proven by whatever reassurance the soul has, and by whatever means.
3. The scholars' attribution to a specific category of unknown narrators is a mistake, as they did not have this classification of the unknown. Accordingly, we cannot say that Ibn Ma'in or al-Nasa'i were lenient in authenticating the unknown narrators, given the broad meaning of the unknown narrators according to them.
4. The term "unknown" may be used by the early scholars in conjunction with weakness or authenticity, and this does not necessarily lead to a contradiction.
5. This research reveals the error of Sheikh al-Mu'alimi (may God have mercy on him) and those who followed him in describing these imams as lenient. This is an excused error of a diligent scholar who, God willing, will be rewarded.